Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-02
THE4rHfC GOSSIP.
Some New Plays by Bronson How
ard, Harri2an ana Roller.

Some New Plays by Bronson How
ard, Harri&an ana Roller.
NEW YORK, Jan. IL met three dra-
matte authors on single block on
Broadway yesterday. Bronson Howard,
who is perhaps the leading American
playwright, wore his glasses thoughtful,
metaphysical smile and capacious
0vercDat. There is a vast amount OF
interest in the new play he has
written for Helen Dauyray. it
is not yet named ard there
mas been great deaf Of secrecy about it.
Mr. Howard told me The plot, however,
and aa this is the first inc II has appeared
in print il may prove Of Interest.
We played IL single night in London
for copYrieht purposes oa Dec. 1877 said
he author, I'm a theatre vhicn was tar
from the madding crowd. Our sole desire
OF course was 10 shrink from Obeeryatior.
, but the London Era haG a man there, and
my copy Of the prper whicn arrived last
night sand the play Wag well written, and
expressed the hope that 1t would soon be
presented at q prominent London
theatre"
''Is il an American play?"
Eyes, and me scene is laid in the Adj
rondacks. Two girls who are with u
family party wander away from the camp
and a,e lost in TIE wilderness. Their
voices, hardly distinQuishable from ine
| echoes. are beard at last by TWO young
men who are rougbiue it in the woods.
| On ded by tleir signals, the gir.s reach
! their blyouac, on the shore of a mountain
! lake. at mduIs ht. The party Of young
! people are. by the accidental absence of
a guide. compelled to remain together a
whole week shut out from the world"
"Umm--isn't it sort or-~
"Weil, OF course, it won't be a namby-
! pamby play; but such a condition of
affairs is QulIe possible among Americans
without particle of suspicion, The ro-
nance OF the situation, their subsequent
meeting at the nome OF the girls near New
York city and me clearing up OF various
ludicrOus and serious Observation-Disclosures
make NJ for tue rest Of the play. One of
tue lovers is an English Earl travelling
ncognitO in America. The villain of the
play assumes the Eari's title, and while
masuueradlng a. the false Earl does some
deep plotting but no serious damage.
rnere is to be novel effect in the shape
OF g violent rainStorm on the stage. 1t
will be exceedingly realistic, with a
downpour OF real water while comedy
scene Is going on in tue storm"
A stalwart and notable figure In the
| ranks of American dramaUists. and a
| newcomer at tha;, Is John ". Keller. who
| has achieved the extraordinary feat OF
writing successful American play
/ which concerns people OF higher social
| grade than newsbOys and street arabs.
| Keller stands over six feet in height,
weighs go pounds, has cherutic red
| cheeks, an intantile smile and grasp of
| the hand that is like unto nothing else on
| earth but the grip of cable car. Mr..
Keller left Yale TO become New YORK re-
| porter. lie distinguished himself by ex-
| posing the diSreputabls Sixth avenue
| dives, and as a reward was attacked with
| brass kGuckles and confined to a hospital
for long time. Now he is the editor of
he Dramatic News, but he will probably
| give up journalism entirely and devote
| his time TO play writing.
About the most interesting outcome
! Of my play thus far" he said Yesterday,
| finds expression IN the number of COM
! plants | have received from people who
| fancy that they are caricatured in char
actors OF Tangled Lives TIE play ia
| professedly collection of New York
| types, and expected to hit one or two
| people, but didn't think so many of nv
! friends would believe that | had carica-
! tured them. AS the characters in Tan.
gled Lives are rather fast in some IN
stances, dim suspicion is stealing over
me tnat my acquaIntances are not all
people oil the most rigid and unimpeacha-
| BILE responsibility"
Ned Harrigan is undoubtedly the most
| successful OF American playwrIghts, al
though, curously enough, the majority of
people do not look upon him as a drama
list at all, but merely RS an actor-man-
! ager, who knocks together a vehicle for
his company to display their ability in.
Harrigan Will write "a great play some
day ana 1t Will concern New FORK and
| New Workers.
81 am gradually getting the materials
together" he said during a short talk,
"ior something Of Il higher order than /
have yet done, but you see / am obliged
TO work with great care. have a heavy
load to drive up hill for my whole COM
pany, and the heavy clientele of nv thea
tire must he lifted with me. | HAYS lust
heard that David Hslasco and Clay Green
were pad 1000 down to-day by Lolita on
account OF the play which they are TO
write for her next season. The authors
will receive s., 000 for the completed work.
In this case you see they have thSwidest
range tor exercising their fancy VbonJld-
Jag new play. But the very iM1ypt [
1 write line beyond my company oNr l..
audiences Pm doomed. | am OblIged'Yt
! move by easy stages, and il IL the wOrKt
of years. but get clearer underst andin =
OF the future play every tine | write a
new piece for my theatre"
There is a chance TOR American drama
fists now. 1t is II great I'M pTovement, for
1t was only "A lew years ago when mana
gers refused even 10 look at play which
was written by an American.
BLABELY HALL.